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4/19/13

Becky Boncal

Every week, he takes a picture of his body framed from breasts to thighs and posts it on his blog.

In the comments, people write that he inspires them.

They want to look like him. They ask for his advice.

Set five pound goals, he writes.

Sometimes, he hits a plateau and he has to push through the pain for those five pounds.

But it feels good when people stare at him in public.

He has tried pills. His body aches but it’s worth it, he says.

Some afternoons, as soon as he sits down he starts to fall asleep.

He does get worried when his heart pounds, but his doctor says he’s healthy, overall.

He has not set a final goal weight; he will know when he gets there.

The Anna Version

Every week, she takes

a picture of her body

framed from breasts to

thighs and posts it

on her blog.

In the comments, people write

that she inspires them.

They want to look like her.

They ask for her advice.

Set five pound goals, she writes.

Sometimes, she hits a plateau

and she has to push through

the pain for those five pounds.

But it feels good

when people stare at her

in public.

She has tried pills.

Her body aches but

it’s worth it, she says.

Some afternoons,

as soon as she

sits down she

starts to fall asleep.

She does get worried

When her heart pounds,

but her doctor says

she’s healthy, overall.

She has not set

a final goal weight;

she will know when

she gets there.

Becky Boncal is a writer who currently teaches literature and writing at John Tyler Community College in Richmond, VA. She holds an MFA in creative writing, fiction, from George Mason University. Her work has appeared in HOOT and The Buried Letter Press.